You Asked For It

During the tours, I told you guys to ask away with any questions you might have. Today we're sitting down with Marla and she's answering them!

What are your favorite home decor stores? My favorites are HomeGoods, I.O. Metro, and Z Gallerie. Those three stores are where I find most of my stuff.

Her home has a very "inviting" feel, one most people would look forward to going to! How does she achieve that feel or is it just her natural taste? I want it to feel homey, but I want my house to have something in every room that has a "wow" factor. For instance, the white antler chandelier in my bedroom was the beginning of my vision. The white deer in the dining room was my inspiration in that room.

What color are the walls in her bedroom? Sorry, I don't remember.

Where did she get her living room rug? Shades of Light-and the exact rug is here. They also have great light fixtures.

I notice that in Gary's office the door frame, baseboards, etc. are wood tone but in the rest of the house that you showed they were white. In my house, all of those things are wood tone, which my husband loves and one room is trimmed out in white???? Since we have moved in, this has driven me up a wall. Is this a thing? Is this okay? I'd love her opinion... Gary's room was the only room that was just "his". He wanted a Texan-football room where he could showcase all of his football memorabilia. I thought the stained wood baseboards would look better with the man look. I think it's just your personal preference.

Where did she get the dining room chairs? That's a funny story! I was driving through a small town in Arkansas where they had an auction every Friday night. They were unloading this dining room set off the truck, and I asked how much they'd take for it all. They were selling the table, six chairs, the buffet, and a china cabinet for $800. I bought it before it went to the auction. I've had it for over thirty years. I changed the hardware and had the chairs recovered in a white leather and then added studs.

Where did she get the living room runner? (rug) Target

I'd love to get tips on how to design/plan a whole room. Does she start with a piece of inspiration or color? How does it all come together? I usually start off with the color scheme I wanna use. I look at a lot of pictures and use those as inspiration. I go with the color scheme first, choose the furniture (I always go with a neutral solid couch-and change out pillows for seasons), and then decor. The hardest part for me is always choosing the rug. It can really make the room come together. I've learned that I buy what I love. If I really love something, then I'll find a place for it. I try to slowly get rid of the things that are outdated. If you add one new modern piece, it can really lighten up your space.

I love her bedroom wall decor in her master bedroom. Where did she get get those? I got those at I.O. Metro. I think they also had them at Z Gallerie as well.

What kind of flooring do they have throughout their downstairs? Handscraped hardwood floors

Where did she get her sofa and what brand is it? I got the sofa from a store that was here in Dallas, but it has closed.

Where did she find the mount on her wall above her desk? If it's the cardboard bull, I found it online. They have lots of other animals. The name of the company is Cardboard Safari.

Where did she get the arrows on the wall of the playroom? I got those at Earthbound Trading Company.

Thank you SO much, Marla, for sharing your home and tips with us!! XOXO

Hey Erika! New follower from Indiana...LOVE your blog & reading about your adorable family. I am a former kindergarten teacher and new mama so I can relate to a lot of your posts! I also had to copy your bedtime reward...when your hubs is gone & you reward yourself with dessert for getting the kids to bed! Love it! My hubby is a middle school Principal (bless him, right?!) and often has evening sporting events/board meetings, etc so I found myself adopting the EBR (Erika Bedtime Reward) - ha! ;) Last - are you and Shay going to the DotMom conference again this year? I remember reading about it and it looked awesome so my best friend Adrienne and I just registered. Can't wait! Have a great week!